Castlepollard 6 - 20 vs Delvin 2 - 5 , Cusack Park, Saturday June 9th

Playing almost the entire game with 14 men, Delvin were no match for Castlepollard on this fine evening. Delvin can have no complaints about the dismissal of Brendan Milligan on a straight red card in the fourth minute and any slim chance of a major shock disappeared at that moment, with Pollard powering their way to a very facile win.  Indeed an indication of their superiority can be gauged by the fact that ten of the men in blue and gold colours made the score sheet while Delvin had only two men on target throughout the hour.   Both sides missed early chances before Milligan was sent off with Andrew Dermody pointing the resultant free.   Two fine long-range frees by Killian Murphy briefly edged Delvin ahead, but Pollard soon took a lead they never looked like relinquishing with unanswered points from the sticks of Andrew Dermody(2) and Alan Devine(free).   Killian Murphy rifled over a 65-metre free in the 12th minute, but Pollard started to avail of their numerical advantage and they added a whopping 3-5 between the 14th and 30th minutes.    The goals came from Alan Devine(two opportunist finishes - bothafter initial efforts from Kevin Brazil and David Higgins respectively were blocked) and a powerful shot from JP Murray in the 27th minute.       The points arrived via Glen Flynn (a great score from the overlapping Full back), Alan Devine(2), Andrew Dermody (a kicked effort) and Darren McCormack (an 80-metre free from the evergreen centre half back).

A small glimmer of hope came Delvin's way in the 2nd minute of added time when Patrick Farrington whipped the sliotar to the net and Killian Murphy quickly added a point from a 35-metre free.

                           

 

Martin Egan openedhis account in the last action of the half to leave Pollard ahead by 3 - 10 to 1 - 4 at the break.  The one traffic continued apace on the restart with Pollard adding a further 2 - 5 by the end of the 3rd quarter.   A kicked goal by Kevin Brazil was followed by a cheeky lobbed finish to the net by Alan Devine, either side of which David Higgins, Alan Devine, Martin Egan and Andrew Dermody(2 - open play and a free) tacked on points.  At the other end, Patrick Farrington poked home a 46th minute goal and Killian Murphy added a point from a long range-free. However that was to prove to be the last Delvin score and Pollard still had time to score a further 1 - 5.   The goal was a scrambled affair with substitute Brian Melia appearing to get the last touch as a number of Delvin defenders tried to prevent the ball crossing the line. Points followed from the sticks of Andrew Dermody(3 - the 3rd from a free) Martin Egan (a free, with regular free taker Andrew Dermody having been substituted) and Donal Devine (a long-range point from play) to bring a very one sided contest to an end.

Scorers :- 

 Pollard :  A Devine 3 - 4 (1 free), A Dermody 0 - 9(3 frees), JP Murray, K Brazil & B Melia 1 - 0 each, M Egan 0 - 3 (1 free), D Higgins, D McCormack (free) & D Devine 0 - 1 each.

 Delvin :   P Farrington 2 - 0, K Murphy 0 - 5 (all frees)

 

Pollard :   Kevin Gavigan, Kenny Murray, Glen Flynn, Paul Dermody, Derek Murray, Darren McCormack, Stephen Boylan, Donal Devine, Shane Fagan, Andrew Dermody, JP Murray, Martin Egan, Alan Devine, David Higgins, Kevin Brazil. Subs used : Brian Melia for A Devine(inj. 38mins), Colm Dermody for Higgine(41 mins), Conor Barry for D Murray(57mins) Wayne Devine for A Dermody (58mins).

 

Delvin :  Conor Dolan, Tosh Clune, Francis McGrath, Aaron McCormack, Noel Murtagh, Niall Williams, Brendan Milligan, JP Farrelly, Tadhg Kelly, Stephen Reilly, Patrick Farrington, Alan Cox, Kevin Williams, Mike Moran, Killian Murphy, Subs used : Cormac Horan for Reilly(41mins), Barry Williams for Moran (47mins), Fintan Cox for Murtagh (56mins)

 

Ref  Robbie Cornally (St Oliver Plunkett's)